She raised an eyebrow. "You got something to say to me, Seaweed Brain?"<br /><br />You'd probably kick my butt."<br /><br />You <i>know</i> I'd kick your butt."<br /><br />I brushed the cake off my hands. "When I was at the River Styx, turning invulnerable . . . Nico said I had to concentrate on one thing that kept me anchored to the world, that made me want to stay mortal."<br /><br />Annabeth kept her eyes on the horizon. "Yeah?"<br /><br />Then up on Olympus," I said, "when they wanted to make me a god and stuff, I kept thinking-"<br /><br />Oh, you so wanted to."<br /><br />Well, maybe a little. But I didn't, because I thought-I didn't want things to stay the same for eternity, because things could always get better. And I was thinking . . ." My throat felt really dry.<br /><br />Anyone in particular?" Annabeth asked, her voice soft.<br /><br />I looked over and saw that she was trying not to smile.<br /><br />You're laughing at me," I complained.<br /><br />I am not!"<br /><br />You are <i>so</i> not making this easy."<br /><br />Then she laughed for real, and she put her hands <br />around my neck. "I am never, <i>ever</i> going to make things easy for you, Seaweed Brain. Get used to it.